
BAM Bear Blast-11/24/23
C.L.I.M.B. Together

November 24, 2023 Edition
The CLIMB - BAM's Weekly Academic Newsletter
Click the icon image below to view "The CLIMB", Brambleton's Weekly Academic Newsletter, to review upcoming activities and assessments in your student's classes.
New & Updated Bear Blast Items
Upcoming Calendar
- Monday, November 27: A-Day
- Club Ranger Day
- Tuesday, November 28: B-Day
- Wednesday, November 29: A-Day
- Club Ranger Day
- Thursday, November 30: B-Day
- Friday, December 1: A-Day
November School Wide Testing Information
The Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) is designed to measure student progress and allow educators and families a greater understanding of their foundational knowledge in Reading and Math.
Students will participate in the Winter Reading VGA in their English classes on November 29th and 30th.
Students will participate in the Winter Math VGA (Except High School Math classes) in their Math classes December 5th and 6th.
Please ensure that your student brings their LCPS Chromebook fully charged on these testing days.
If you have any questions in regard to these assessments' please reach out to Ms. Corrina Orr, Assistant Principal and School Testing Coordinator, at Corrina.orr@lcps.org,
BAM Symphonic Band Honored at VMEA
The Brambleton Middle School Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mr. Martin Blount, Ms. Samantha Charriez, and Mr. Colson Meeks, was honored with an invitation to perform a concert at the Virginia Music Educators Association’s 2023 Professional Development Conference. The VMEA Conference Selection Committee selected Brambleton through blind audition of submitted recordings from across the commonwealth. Invitations to perform are extended only to the very best performing ensembles in Virginia, and this marks the first time a Loudoun County band has received this honor.
Students in the 2023-2024 Symphonic Band (pictured below) performed for a large audience of music teachers and family on November 17 at the Richmond Convention Center. Our students did an amazing job representing LCPS, Brambleton Middle School, their families and themselves. Way to go, students! We are so proud of you!
Special thanks to the BAM Band Families for their support of this amazing opportunity and those that were able to join as chaperones on the trip. This partnership was instrumental in making this a great experience. Thank you, Families!
Lastly, congratulations to our dedicated directors, Mr. Blount, Ms. Charriez and Mr. Meeks. These three put in countless hours to earn, prepare and plan this experience for our students. Thank you so much for going above and beyond for our students!
BAM School Fundraiser Delivery & Prize Update
Product Delivery Update
The sales products have been filled and are in transit from Colorado as of November 16. The company estimated a 3-5 day delivery time to the local Virginia frozen warehouse. When the products are received at that warehouse, they will call Mr. O'Brien/BAM to schedule a delivery to Brambleton Middle. As of 11/21/2023, the delivery is still in transit from Colorado. We will communicate that pick-up date as soon as we have it from the warehouse. Families will pick up from Brambleton in the afternoon/evening after school dismissal. Thank you for your patience! We were told our overall orders were such high quantity that it took quite a bit of time to fill and organize all orders.
The company shared that online orders where purchasers chose delivery to their home directly are being shipped currently or have already shipped.
Student Prize Update
- Our Prize Day was completed on Thursday, November 16 during all lunch shifts at BAM and BAMex. For students that were absent on Thursday, we distributed prizes and called students for make up prize activities during Den Time prior to Thanksgiving break to ensure everyone could participate. If your child was absent and still has unclaimed prizes, they may visit the main office during Den Time or lunch during the week of November 27th.
- For students that sold at least five items to qualify for the magic show, that will occur on Tuesday, November 28 beginning at 8:45am. We will communicate this with students via morning announcements and eligible students will be dismissed from class to attend. There is no make-up magic show for absent students as we do not have access to the performer at another date. We look forward to this show as well!
For fundraiser questions, feel free to contact Ms. Jen Friedman, Financial Technician, and Mr. O'Brien, Principal.
Repeat Bear Blast Items
Quarter 1 CLIMB Awards
We are pleased to announce our CLIMB Award winners for Quarter 1! CLIMB Awards winners were nominated by their teachers and grade level administrative teams for demonstrating characteristics essential to being a Brambleton Bear. These qualities are encompassed into five categories: Create, Lead, Inspire, Motivate and Believe. CLIMB Awards winners were recognized at a ceremony on November 2nd. Congratulations, and continue to CLIMB!
Quarter 1 Honor Roll
We are excited to recognize our Quarter 1 “All A” Honor Roll and “A/B” Honor Roll Students! Congratulations on your hard work and dedication to academic excellence! Please, click on the links below to view a presentation slide deck with student lists.
8th Grade
7th Grade
6th Grade
AMC 8 Math Competition
The AMC 8 (American Mathematics Competition) is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. Students apply classroom skills to unique problem-solving challenges in a low-stress and friendly environment.
This year's competition will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024 after school in the BAM Cafeteria. Your child may ride the activity bus home or can be picked up at the conclusion of the test (approximately 4:45pm).
There is a $5 participation fee for this competition, payable through SchoolCash Online. Families can log into their SchoolCash Online account to choose AMC 8 in order to pay.
If your student would like to participate in this year's competition, please do the following:
- complete this registration no later than Friday, December 15 at 3pm. Registrations will NOT be accepted after Dec. 15 at 3pm!
- pay the $5 registration fee through your SchoolCash Online account no later than Friday, December 15 at 3pm. Payment will NOT be accepted after Dec. 15 at 3pm.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition: Brainstorming Workshop
Does your student want to participate in the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition but they are struggling to find a topic? Check out the flyer below for a virtual “Brainstorming Workshop” hosted by SULYC. The workshop will take place on November 14th and December 5th at 7pm. Students do not need to be registered for the competition to attend, and only need to attend once. Both sessions will be the same. At this workshop SULYC will be giving students brainstorming activities, strategies and tools to help develop an idea into a project. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
2024 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition
The Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition presents middle and high school students with an opportunity to identify an issue in their communities and implement a solution as they contribute to the world around them. Students will create a 5-minute team video due February 21, 2024, and then the top 20 teams will present live to judges on March 11, 2024. The Finals and Awards Ceremony will be on March 21, 2024, where the top 10 teams will be invited to present for cash prizes.
Registration for the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is now open. You will find information about SULYC and the link for the application at: www.loudounyouth.org under Programs: Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition.
BAM Counseling Corner
LCPS Special Programs for Rising 9th Graders
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Department of Teaching & Learning visited eighth-graders at Brambleton Middle School on November 1 and 2 to share information about the various special programs and academies available to rising 9th-grade students. The presentation included information about the Academies of Loudoun, the Health and Medical Sciences Academy (HAMSci) which will be new in 2024-2025, the LCPS Pre-International Baccalaureate (Pre-IB), Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC), and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Students interested in HAMSci, LCPS Pre-IB, and Navy JROTC can show interest in these programs starting on December 1, 2023 in Student Opportunities located in LCPSGo.
For additional information about the various LCPS Special Programs and Academies, visit https://www.lcps.org/specprog.
BAM PTSA Partnership
Brambleton Middle School
Website: https://www.lcps.org/BAM
Location: 23070 Learning Circle, Ashburn, VA, USA
Phone: 703-957-4450
Twitter: @BAM_MS_Official
Brambleton Middle School
Loudoun County Public Schools